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Monday, 2 March 2015

How is it March already? It was Christmas mere minutes ago! Next thing you know it'll be summer (which is fine by me, as I am getting fed up of wintery weather!). Anyway, despite passing by in a mere moment, I packed quite a lot into February. Here's what I go up to...

Instagram username: @eversojuliet

1. The start of the month was pretty busy, with a few late nights at work, and a flurry of report-writing (not my favourite of tasks!). Luckily my team are lovely (and know how to get on my good side), and brought me loads of doughnuts! I'm giving up sugary treats for all of March, but I so wish I could have a doughnut now!

2. My weak spot in life is Anthropologie's house & homesection (seriously, I want it all!), so when I saw this weird littletrinket dishI could not resist. I didn't know where to put it at first, but it turns out a few tealights fit perfectly into it, so it makes a lovely candleholder. Treat yo self!

3. The nights are finally getting lighter, and a couple of weeks ago the most beautiful pinky-purple sky appeared in Edinburgh. This photo was taken from my bedroom window and my whole flat was bathed in soft pink light, it was gorgeous.

4. It was my lovely friend Jules' birthday (happy birthday Jules!) and Joshua & I thought it was a themed party, so dressed up as Jules from her gothier days. Turns out it was NOT a themed party, but I actually really loved my grungy makeup (and will probably blog a tutorial soon...).

5. It's tulip season, hooray! I love this time of year, when you can fill your house with tulips and daffodils for only a few pounds. I have to try really hard to resist buying tulips every time I go to the shop, I just love them so much.

6. My friend Eilidh got a baby hedgehog, and she is the CUTEST thing ever! Hedgehogs are surprisingly soft and cuddly (the spines feel like the bristles on a hairbrush), and I was so won over, I am joining the hedgehog-owner club, and should be picking up mine at the end of the month. EEEEEK. Watch this space for spiky updates!

7. The Edinburgh Science Festival programme launched and I am super proud (and a little exhausted already). There's only a month to go until the festival kicks off, and there's so much to do (aaaah), but I work with brilliant people and am super chuffed to be part of such a cool science gang.

8. We also have seriously adorable artwork this year (designed by my very clever boyfriend), which makes for super cute cupcake toppers!

9. A good month is always marked by how many weekends are spent eating yum breakfast and drinking lovely coffee, and this month excelled at it!

10. I also had a really delicious/exhausting Sunday pub roast at the The Lioness of Leith, where we got a whole chicken (whaaaat), and a whole tray of sides. This was so nice, I immediately had to have a lie down afterwards.

11. February also saw my very first trip to the ballet. I was invited along to Northern Ballet's Romeo & Juliet, and I was worried I'd feel a bit out of my depth (because ballet is just so cultured and grown up), but it was absolutely beautiful!

12. Aaand to round off an absolutely FREEZING day, I sought shelter in a Hotel Chocolatcafe for the richest, smoothest hot chocolate I've ever had!

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

A few weeks ago, I went along to Museum Lates: Game Masters - the latest in the National Museum of Scotland's super popular series of late-night events. Museum Lates are so much fun! You get to explore the museum without millions of kids getting in the way, take part in interactive and crafty sessions, drink wine and dance in the beautiful Grand Gallery.

The Museum is currently home toGame Masters, a massive interactive exhibition celebrating videogames, so this month's Lates was themed around gaming... which meant it was also the perfect chance to dress up (I can never resist an opportunity for fancy dress!).

I wanted something easy to put together (as we were heading straight from work), so I dressed up as Misty from Pokemon - a game I absolutely loved when I was younger! I painted my nails in the pattern of her pokemon Togepi (because I am a cool grown-up), which meant I didn't have to carry around any props (all the better for carrying beer instead), and I discovered that braces are surprisingly comfortable.

Joshua was king of dress-up though, and went as a Pikmin, which is a character from a super cute (and seriously addictive) game we've been playing. All night people kept coming up to us to gasp at his outfit and take his picture (and occasionally, presumably out of sympathy, take my photo too).

It was just SO much fun! The Grand Gallery was lit up with Pac-Man shapes, you could make videogame-inspired jewellery, craft pixelated Valentine's cards, take part in Just Dance on a massive screen (only mildly embarrassing), listen to game-themed poetry, play on arcade games, or tipsily explore the museum (my favourite bit is their massive t-rex!).

Game Mastersis on until April 20th (so you can come see it as part of the Science Festival!) and is definitely worth a visit (even if you don't think you're much of a gaming fan). Museum Lates run across the year, and if you keep an eye on their events page, details of the next one will hopefully be up soon.

Thursday, 19 February 2015

I cannot believe it is this time of year again, it's come round so quickly! 2015 marks the 27th Edinburgh International Science Festival (and my 3rd year at the Festival!) and our amazing new programme launched today.

This year we're celebrating the role of the Science Festival as a hub for information, ideas and innovations - so we're transforming the halls, galleries, theatres and gardens of Edinburgh into The Ideas Factory.

As always, there will be loads on for families (including amazing workshops at City Art Centre and performances and workshops at Summerhall), and our adult programme is packed full of discussions, debates, workshops, screenings, and fun nights out - all with a scientific twist!

The production line runs from 4-19 April, so you've got plenty of time to browse the programme and get your tickets!

There's about a million events on at the Festival this year, so here's my top ten picks of what to see:

Science Festival Lates - the festival's opening party, with eyeballs, brains, robots and slime all mixed in with music, bars and fun!

Bad Science Books? Jurassic Park - a look at the relationship between science fact and science fiction, hosted by my super cool pal Sasha from the Scottish Book Trust!

LateLab -
possibly my favourite events at the festival - LateLab is a series of
presentations, performances, interactives and installations for the
sociable and sci-curious! This year we've got films, an event with author Matt
Haig, experiemental music and sonic art, cocktails and an exploration of
beauty at the stunning Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Tunnel Vision - street trials rider Danny MacAskill (who you'll know from every cool stunt-cycling video) talks to a neuroscientist about the nature of focus, and how it drives us to achieve extraordinary things.

Give in to Fermentation- the Science Festival teams up with Brewdog for a night celebrating fermentation with food and beer!

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

I am a big fan of hairstyles that I can rely on when I don't have much time to get ready - which, most commonly for me, is in the morning when I should have definitely washed my hair, but didn't (I am often the victim of my snooze button!).

So, I've put together a few hair tutorials showing you what I do when I'm trying to hide mucky hair! Here's the first one, and my very favourite thing to do on a bad hair day - just stick a scarf round it!

For this I used a vintage silk scarf that I found in a charity shop. You want a scarf that is long enough to wrap around your head (with enough left to easily tie a knot). My hair is dirty at the roots and just feels a bit mucky and uncomfortable down, so with this look I just want to get it out of my way.

Start by putting your hair up in a ponytail, then twisting it into a messy bun, securing it with kirby grips.

Take your scarf and fold it into a long strip, about 3 inches wide. Then wrap it round your head, and tie it into a knot on top of your head - don't worry about doing the bow yet!

Then make sure you're happy with the position of the scarf round your head, and use a few kirby grips to secure it at the sides and back. Now it'll be totally secure, and you can tie the scarf ends into a bow. If the scarf is longer than the one I'm using, just tuck the ends under the sides of the scarf, and adjust your kirby grips to secure this too.

Tuesday, 17 February 2015

I know I could actually eat pancakes whenever I want, because I am a grown up and they are so simple to make, but it's special on pancake day - the world gives you an excuse to have sugar and whipped cream for dinner, and to feel good about it.

My favourite pancakes are super thin crepes (this recipe) drizzled in lemon and sugar, but I'm also partial to an over-the-top ridiculous american-style pancake. This year I think I'm actually going to use the excuse of lent (despite not being religious at all) to give up refined sugar and fried foods until Easter... I want to shake off my sluggish winter feelings!

So, as this is my last chance to be super indulgent for a while, I'm really looking forward to tonight's tea. Here's a few pancake recipes from Pinterest that look seriously good!